Is he competent to stand trial? 13-year-old boy accused of stabbing girl with pocketknife

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RACINE COUNTY (WITI) — 13-year-old Jamal Williams -- charged as an adult, accused of stabbing an 11-year-old girl with a pocketknife as she walked home from school will be examined to determine whether he's competent to stand trial.

Williams has been charged with attempted first degree intentional homicide. He appeared in court for his preliminary hearing on Wednesday, September 17th.

Police on Monday, September 8th were dispatched to Wheaton Franciscan Medical Center for a report of a juvenile stabbing victim.

There, they made contact with an 11-year-old girl, who said she was walking home from school with three friends when two black males approached the group from behind.

The criminal complaint filed against Williams says the girl told police Williams began “picking at her” — before coming in front of her, saying “you messing with my girlfriend?” before apparently punching the girl several times in her left side.

The complaint says it was then that the girl realized Williams had a pocket knife in his hand, and that she had been stabbed.

The complaint says the girl struck Williams several times — and he began to flee the scene.

The girl’s mother transported her to the hospital, where the complaint says she had to have stitches to close wounds to her upper arm, her left forearm, and her upper left chest cavity.

Police interviewed Williams, who said he didn’t know the girl or her friends. Williams told police he walked part of the way home from school with a friend.

The complaint says that friend told police while walking home with Williams, the two came across the 11-year-old girl with a group of friends.

The complaint says Williams’ friend told police Williams and the girl began arguing — before agreeing to fight.

It was then that Williams’ friend told police Williams pulled out some sort of knife and stabbed the 11-year-old girl three times.

Williams’ friend told police the girl was able to fight Williams off, and that’s when he and Williams took off running, according to the complaint.

The complaint says police spoke with a friend of the 11-year-old girl, who corroborated Williams’ friend’s story. Both of these friends identified Williams as the individual who had stabbed the 11-year-old girl.

The complaint says the 11-year-old girl told police she has been a victim of bullying at school last year and this year, and that she believes the stabbing is related.

If he is convicted of the attempted first degree intentional homicide charge, Williams could face up to 60 years in prison.

The Racine Unified School District says at the middle school level, it has a bully prevention program, and a coordinator at each school.

RUSD has issued this statement to FOX6 News:

“We are working with police as well as the family of the student who was injured. Though this incident occurred off of school property, we will do everything we can to ensure our students continue to feel safe both in and out of school.”

The suspect, and victim are both students at the middle school. Police say the victim says she’s been bullied for more than year.

5 comments

diane

I think the DA.has it right. .wow doesnt matter..what pigment of skin…what is wrong with kids….the motive here is avenging.a girlfriend how old is this kid….a girlfriend I surely hope he is not a “baby daddy” where are the parents. …..this…and other crime…lately is dusturbing

apple

I doubt he will ever change, you can see it in his eyes.Damage is done, and he is programmed in wrong way. Sometimes you can reprogram people, but who will do that with this boy, his family made him, how he is today.